Steps To Becoming A Wesleyan Pastor
1.THE LOCAL CHURCH LEVEL - Meet with your pastor and discuss your call to the ministry. Go over the different tracks of ministry in the Wesleyan Church ( See Tracks Of Ministry In The Wesleyan Church) . Check with your pastor to make sure that your Covenant Membership in your local Wesleyan Church is current. Fill out the application for recommendation (can be obtained from Student Downloads--DBMD Forms )and give it to your pastor for your interview with the Local Board of Administration of your church. If you are pursuing Ordination, Commissioning or Special Worker status you must receive a recommendation from your Local Church Conference (or Local Board if so authorized) to your district for licensing as a ministerial student. If you are a Lay Minister then you need the vote of the LBA to become a licensed Lay Minister and you do not need to report to the district.
2.THE DISTRICT LEVEL - Meet with your District Board of Ministerial Development (DBMD - Ordination, Commissioning or Special Worker only). They will interview you and counsel with you on the best course of action to take in your academic training for ministry. Contact your DBMD Coordinator to set up an interview date. You should have your DBMD Chairman sign and return to Education and the Ministry the authorization for ministerial studies form (can be obtained from Student Downloads--DBMD Forms ). This informs The Department Of Education and the Ministry that you have been authorized to study for the ministry by your district.
3. THE GENERAL CHURCH LEVEL - Enroll with the Education and the Ministry Department. There are four ways to enroll with us: 1. Fill out the enrollment form (can be obtained from Student Downloads--DBMD Forms ) 2. Print the enrollment form from the web site ( www.wesleyan.org/em ) and send it to us 3. Call us at 317-774-3911 and fill out an enrollment form over the phone. 4. Or, enroll online at www.wesleyan.org/em. This enrollment is crucial to your ministerial preparation process. You must have a file established in the Department of Education and the Ministry so that reports can be given to your district showing your progress toward your intended credential goal. To be ordained, commissioned or licensed in the Wesleyan Church, your district must have certification from our office. The enrollment fee is $15 and should accompany your enrollment form for your file to be initiated. You may pay by MasterCard/Visa, check or cash. This $15 enrollment fee is waived if you have or are currently attending a Wesleyan Church College/University or one of our seven Wesleyan Church approved seminaries. We will keep a transcript of all your completed classes and update you with a report once a year or at any time that you request a report.
4. THE ACADEMIC LEVEL - The tracks of ministry defined in Tracks Of Ministry In The Wesleyan Church each have a set of academic standards. All tracks have a set of specific required training courses that will help to prepare the individual for the many different tasks and opportunities of day to day ministry. When those academic requirements have been satisfied, the individual is then certified as having completed the academic requirements for that particular track of ministry. The certification report is also forwarded on to your district. The district has the actual authority to ordain, commission or license (except for Lay Minister who is licensed by their local church). A complete outline of the academic requirements for each of the ministerial tracks is available (can be obtained from Student Downloads--DBMD Forms ).